I was eating lunch with a business partner today --- chinese food in a restaurant I rarely go to --- when I noticed this group of men sitting together wearing white shirts with a logo on them. I looked carefully and realized it said something about Benedict.
So, after we finished eating, I went to their table and introduced myself. And wouldn't you know that these are local Olivetan Benedictine monks --- only 5 monasteries in the country. They happen to be located 9 miles from my home and I never knew they existed.
I guess they have about 8 or 9 monks there. One of them invited me to mass tonight at 6 PM. And he introduced himself as Mike Sanders or something like that. So I decided to go.
After a lot of wrong turns in some rice fields, I finally found the place. Really nice. A chapel for about 35 and it was packed. Standing room only. It hadn't occurred to me that obviously this is their big day of the year.
The abbot led the mass wearing a bishop's mitre and carrying the crozier --- hooked staff. Lots of incense. It was a mass in English but with a _lot_ of Latin throughout. Something I've never seen in person.
It was a beautiful mass and a really nice place. Afterwards, I walked up to the guy who invited me and he asked my name again --- and I asked his again.
He laughed and said, "Ephraim". He explained that he actually was made a member of the order last night although he had been living there for 6 months. He chose to be inducted on the eve of St. Benedict's memorial because it was a very traditional day to do it. And he forgot to introduce himself by his new name because it was so new to him this morning
Anyway, nice place. They are just growing it and hope to eventually have spiritual retreats there much like the ones I attend with the Jesuits.
Definitely made for an interesting twist to a nice day.
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